LV Times editorial: View your vote as a transaction

The issue: The start-and-stop rehabilitation of the U.S. economy in the lean years following The Great Recession.

Our view: Perhaps it's merely an anomaly instead of a trend, but a recent Associated Press story on job postings reaching a 13-year high in the U.S. is at least reason to be optimistic the economy is mending.

Comment

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

Writer

Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 5:44 PM

Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 5:44 PM

Lansing, Leavenworth, Leavenworth County

It was a story easy to miss that appeared Tuesday on the Leavenworth Times website, www.leavenworthtimes.com, but one that carries with it hope of more lucrative and less worrisome days ahead.

"U.S. job openings in June hit 13-year-plus high," the headline for the Associated Press article read.

The story stated U.S. employers in June advertised the most monthly job openings in more than 13 years, 4.67 million jobs, up 2.1 percent from May's 4.58 million, according to U.S. Labor Department figures.

The job postings, according to the AP, are a "positive sign that points to a strengthening economy."

The economy.

Now there's a topic that regularly falls away from the public's consciousness, though its importance cannot be overstated given economic conditions affect every man, woman and child in the U.S.

We hear about the influx of illegal aliens from Central America. About continuing violence in the Middle East, and now American involvement — again.

We hear about violence and issues of race in Ferguson, Mo., and the standard election-year rhetoric coming from incumbents and their hopeful-to-the-throne challengers jockeying for November.

But, the economy tends to go overlooked, and maybe that's a sign we've all been conditioned to leaner circumstances and belt tightening in the years following The Great Recession.

Beyond the preservation of democracy and national defense, is there a topic that impacts the U.S. more than the economy?

Doubtful, considering the flow of dollars is the well from which almost everything else in our society springs.

It hasn't been a particularly smooth last few years for the U.S., as morale has dipped low and cynicism has soared to an all-time high.

America needs a win, and while the economy hasn't recovered, and the story cited above may simply outline anomalies rather than trends, it's at least worth noting and having hope for more prosperous days in the future.

In these days leading up to November's general election, we, as voters, will be promised the farm from politicos and those aspiring to be pertaining to public policy.

Many of those promises will be forgotten as soon as they're sworn into office. That's not a slam on public officials, but simply a political reality.

The Leavenworth Times encourages voters to put serious questions about economic views to officials seeking office.

View your vote as a transaction — is the product worth the price? And, don't let officials off with generalities — ask specifically what they would do to bolster your local, state and national economy, and most importantly, ask whether they'll be accountable years later if their measures don't materialize.

A rigorous questioning of candidates concerning their views and platforms on the economy and economic development can make the difference between selecting someone who views public office as a profession, and those who genuinely want to serve, and have the innovation and critical-thinking skills to do so.